# If I Say "It Goes Up to 11," Do You Know What I'm Talking About? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 16, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616 "2011-02-16T18:51:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/21 "2011-02-16T21:14:34Z")
I know the phrase and where it’s from but I have never seen the movie and don’t have any plans to in the future. Also the OP works with cows. I’m not surprised a cow would not know the phrase. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/22 "2011-02-16T21:18:32Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Just for kicks, I’m going to ask our next coffee get-together. Sort of a _Cups and Cakes_-type gathering, I take it? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/23 "2011-02-16T21:26:12Z")
I’ve never seen it, but I do know what movie the line is from. It’s one of those things, like “the cake is a lie” or “all your base are belong to us” that you don’t need to be overly familiar with the source to be aware of. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/24 "2011-02-16T21:26:56Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The amp which I have for my electric guitar [goes to 12](http://www.peavey.com/products/instamplifiers/guitaramps/vypyr/). Seriously. 😃 Wow, you really get that push over the cliff! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/25 "2011-02-16T21:28:01Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > It’s one of those things, like “the cake is a lie,” that you don’t need to be familiar with the source to be aware of. The what is a what now? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/26 "2011-02-16T21:42:39Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Sort of a _Cups and Cakes_-type gathering, I take it? More like stale donuts and coffee. Our donuts only go to 7. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/27 "2011-02-16T21:51:26Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > That’s silly. That’s like saying that the under 75 crowd is too young to be familiar with The Wizard of Oz. > > Classics is classics. Hmmmmm, I think this is a little different. Many if not most of us have been watching TWoO since before we were old enough to understand it. Just the fact that it’s a family movie makes it far more accessible. "This is Spinal Tap (boxed for anyone who doesn’t know what we’re talking about) is more of a cult classic. I can probably predict with a fair amount of accuracy whether any given person I’m speaking to would get the reference. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/28 "2011-02-16T22:04:55Z")
There’s also the actual xkcd strip which I’m pretty sure kenobi’s post referenced. > **[Spinal Tap Amps](https://xkcd.com/670/)** > > Wow, that's less than $200 per ... uh ... that's a good deal! (And I’m a little shocked to be the xckd poster here - I’m usually way too late on these things.) ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/29 "2011-02-16T22:08:54Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > The what is a what now? Portal The game: (click “read the review”) > **[Portal](https://www.gamespot.com/games/portal/)** > > Portal lets you shoot portals into walls and floors to solve puzzles and teleport objects, including yourself, around. The song in question: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y6ljFaKRTrI/hqdefault.jpg "Portal - 'Still Alive'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ljFaKRTrI) \*now has GLaDOS stuck in her head for the rest of the week… \* ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/30 "2011-02-16T22:40:22Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > There’s also the actual xkcd strip which I’m pretty sure kenobi’s post referenced Not sure if it’s connected or not. I linked to Peavey’s line of Vypyr modeling amps (I have the baby 15-watt model), which do, indeed, go to 12. I have no idea if they had any knowledge of the xkcd strip (or if the strip even predates the introduction of the amps), but the volume knob on the amp is clearly inspired by Spinal Tap. Heh…I just went to take a look at the PDF of the owner’s manual (I’m not at home at the moment), and I was mistaken…Vypyr amps actually go to **13**! [Peavey Vypyr Owner’s Manual](http://www.peavey.com/assets/literature/manuals/03584370_4.pdf) (warning: big PDF)…go to page 9. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/31 "2011-02-17T00:17:22Z")
You’re talking about BBC iPlayer, right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/32 "2011-02-17T00:32:24Z")
You can’t expect people in the real world to get pop culture or Internet meme references. You just can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Monkey\_Chews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Monkey\_Chews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkey_Chews)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/33 "2011-02-17T01:39:37Z")
I’m pretty familiar with what it means, but then not only have I seen the movie loads of times, I work for a company called One Louder. (My boss is a Spinal Tap fanatic.) It was our tenth birthday last year, and we wanted to do something to celebrate, but we decided to forgo having a big anniversary party until this year, so we can have it on our 11th birthday. Fortunately it’s in November, and even more fortunately the 11th falls very conveniently on a Friday, so yes we are having the One Louder 10th Birthday Party on it’s 11th birthday of 11/11/11. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/34 "2011-02-17T02:10:28Z")
I’m so old that I once knew what it was, forgot it, and had to be reminded by this thread. I’ve never gotten around to seeing the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/35 "2011-02-17T02:30:21Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > And “But this goes to 11.” I wasn’t able to find that. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/36 "2011-02-17T03:02:25Z")
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I just bought it and immediately loaned it out to a friend. I’ve known the saying for years without even seeing the clip. I am a big Christopher Guest fan. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/37 "2011-02-17T04:30:54Z")
I have a new personal expression: never be surprised at what somebody doesn’t know. After I made that expression, I found out even Einstein commented on it: > [@Einstein](#): > > Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/38 "2011-02-17T13:07:31Z")
_“Cheeky bastard!”_ ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/39 "2011-02-17T14:31:40Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > The what is a what now? In the game “Portal” you’re repeatedly promised that when you finish the game you’ll be rewarded with a party with cake. At one point in a room in the game there are scrawlings on the wall, among them “The cake is a lie!” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616/40 "2011-02-17T14:32:27Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Not sure if it’s connected or not. I linked to Peavey’s line of Vypyr modeling amps (I have the baby 15-watt model), which do, indeed, go to 12. I have no idea if they had any knowledge of the xkcd strip (or if the strip even predates the introduction of the amps), but the volume knob on the amp is clearly inspired by Spinal Tap. > > Heh…I just went to take a look at the PDF of the owner’s manual (I’m not at home at the moment), and I was mistaken…Vypyr amps actually go to **13**! > > [Peavey Vypyr Owner’s Manual](http://www.peavey.com/assets/literature/manuals/03584370_4.pdf) (warning: big PDF)…go to page 9. There is no standard numerical scale for amp dials - however, Marshall’s as a rule do go up to 10 and that is what Nigel was dealing with in the scene in question, IIRC. We do refer to “diming” controls - i.e., turning them up to 10 - but that usually refers to the controls on the electric guitar itself, which are typically standardized on a scale of 10 - Gibsons and Fenders anyway… So if you walk into a Guitar Center, you will see amps that go up to a variety of max’s… …but if while you are there you see a real sunburst Les Paul, just pick it up - don’t plug it in - and listen to that sustain.😉 btw, I do believe that Christopher Guest and Michael McKean met discussing guitars, not comedy or acting. Both are total guitar geeks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-say-it-goes-up-to-11-do-you-know-what-im-talking-about/571616.md?page=3)